Lee Berger (paleoanthropologist): Difference between revisions

He was an [[List of notable Eagle Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]] and Boy Scouts of America [[Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America|Honor Medal]] Winner and National Press Photographers Association Humaniterian Award winner in 1987 for throwing his camera down while working as a news photographer for television station WTOC and jumping into the Savannah River to save a drowning woman. He has extensive training in lifesaving and medical anatomy. His work in exploration and in human evolutionary studies has been covered in numerous international magazine feature articles and no less than twenty major international television documentaries. He has most recently ben featured in National Geographic’s Naked Science series, National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survivor which premiered in March 2005 and Ancient Enemies with acclaimed Director/Producer Derrick Joubert. He is presently filming and hosting a thirteen-part international television series on [[fossils]], exploration and fossil hunting. In 1997 he received the Alumnus of the Year award in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Georgia Southern University. In 1999 he was awarded the 1st [[Friedel Sellschop]] Award for Young Researchers. In 1997, the [[National Geographic Society]] in Washington, D.C. awarded him the 1st National Geographic Society Prize for Research and Exploration given for his groundbreaking research into human evolution. The citation on the awards reads “In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the increase of geographic knowledge through his accomplishments in the field of palaeoanthropology. In the study of the origins of humanity Prof. Berger has epitomized the Society’s mission to seek new knowledge of our world. It is the Society’s desire to recognize both his past accomplishments and future potential in one of the most demanding of all the anthropological disciplines”. As a youth he was active in student politics and president of [[Georgia 4-H]], involved in [[National FFA Organization|Future Farmers of America]] and Georgia Youth Conservationist of the Year for his work in conserving the endangered [[gopherus|Gopher Tortiose]].

Over the past five years he has been principle investigator or co-principle investigator on grants totaling in excess of US$ 3 million , including grants from the National Geographic Society, the [[Swiss National Science Foundation]] and the Palaeo-Anthropological Scientific Trust. He served as Executive Officer of the Palaeo-Anthropological Scientific Trust from 1994 - 2001 and now acts as scientific advisor to the Trust, he was a founding Trustee of the [[Jane Goodall|Jane Goodall]] Trust South Africa and served on the Committee for successful application for World Heritage Site Status for the [[UNESCO]] Sterkfontein, [[Swartkrans|Swartkans]], Kromdraai and Environs site. He also served on the committee for application of the [[Mokopane|Makapansgat]] and Taung sites for World Heritiage site status and Makapansgat site development committee. He also served on the committee of the Royal Society of South Africa, Northern Branch between 1996 and 1998 and served as Secretary in 1996 and 1997. He served on the Fulbright Commission, South Africa and was Chair of the Program Review Committee from 2002 - 2004 and was Chairman for 2005.